Mentoringthrough the

New Testament:

The Gospelof Luke

Rob MacEwen, PhDThe Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Rembrandt, 1633

Introduction to the

Gospel of Luke

St. LukeFrans Hals

Mid 17th century

Luke in the New TestamentOnly Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful in my ministry (2 Timothy 4:11 NRSV) Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas

greet you. (Colossians 4:14 NRSV) 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ

Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. (Philemon 23-24 NRSV)

Luke in Church Tradition

“The reports of Luke’s life after Paul's death are conflicting. Some early writers claim he was martyred, others say he lived a long life. Some say he preached in Greece, others in Gaul. The earliest tradition we have says that he died at [the age of] 84 [in] Boeotia after settling in Greece to write his Gospel.”source: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=76

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Outline of Luke

I. Birth and Childhood (1:1–2:52)II. Ministry in Galilee (3:1–9:50)III. Journey to Jerusalem: Lessons in

Discipleship (9:51–19:27)IV. Conclusion in Jerusalem: Conflict,

Passion, and Resurrection (19:28–24:53)

Purposes of Luke’s GospelTo enable his readers to “be certain of the

truth of everything [they] were taught” about Jesus and faith in him (Luke 1:4 NLT).

To show “the historical veracity and worldwide significance” of the life of Jesus.

To show that Jesus and the salvation he brought fulfills God’s promises to Israel.

To show that Jesus is the Savior for all the nations of the world.

To defend the Christian movement against those who attack it, including Jews and Roman officials.

(Mark L. Strauss, Four Portraits, One Jesus: An Introduction to Jesus and the Gospels (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007), 263)

Unique to LukeStories of Birth and Childhood (different from Matthew’s; Luke 1:5–2:52) Resurrection of a Widow’s Son in

Nain (7:11-17)Anointing by a Sinful Woman (7:36-

50)Mission of the Seventy (10:1-20)Parable of the Good Samaritan

(10:25-37)

Unique to LukeParable of the Prodigal Son (15:11-

32)Conversion of Zacchaeus (19:1-10)Trial before Herod Antipas (23:5-12)The Repentant Criminal on the

Cross (23:39-43)Post-resurrection Appearance on the

Road to Emmaus (24:13-35)Account of the Ascension (24:50-53)And much more . . .

Luke’s Portrait of JesusCompassionate toward the poor,

women, and social outcasts.Demands high-cost, high-commitment

discipleship.Operates in the power of the Holy

Spirit.Devoted to prayer.Emphasizes the joy of God.Is the fulfillment of God’s promises to

Israel but also “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (2:32).

Christ on theMount of OlivesFrancisco Goya1819

Jesus at prayerNow when all the people were baptized, and when

Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, (Luke 3:21 NRSV)

15 But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. 16 But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray. (Luke 5:15-16 NRSV)

12 Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles: (Luke 6:12-13 NRSV)

Jesus at prayer (continued)Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the

disciples near him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" (Luke 9:18 NRSV)

28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. (Luke 9:28-29 NRSV)

1 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." 2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. (Luke 11:1-2 NRSV)

Jesus at prayer (continued) 31 "Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to

sift all of you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." (Luke 22:31-32 NRSV)

43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. 44 In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.

(Luke 22:43-44 NRSV)

Other Distinctives of Luke’s GospelSymposia—dinner parties with teaching.A more nuanced portrayal of the Jewish

leaders.A more positive portrayal of the disciples.An emphasis on repentance.An emphasis on Christianity’s continuity

with Judaism. Emphasis on Jerusalem and the Temple.Outreach to Samaritans.Lively, dramatic parables.Different versions of Mark’s stories.

A Key VerseNIV Luke 15:10 “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Journey to Jerusalem

Luke 9:51–19:27

Characteristics of the Journey to Jerusalem in Luke (9:51–19:27) Much longer than the “journeys” of Mark and Matthew.Most of the material is either Double Tradition or unique to Luke.Repeated mentions of Jerusalem and the

suffering that awaits Jesus there.Jesus addresses a variety of groups: the Twelve,

the disciples, the Pharisees, and the crowds.Progress on the Journey is not necessarily

chronological/geographical (9:52; 10:38; 17:11).

Major Topics of Jesus’ Teaching on the JourneyThe Cost of Discipleship (9:23-26, 57-62; 12:51-53; 14:25-35; 17:7-10)The Blessedness of the Disciples (10:17-24; 10:38-42; 11:27-28)Prayer (11:1-13; 17:5-6; 18:1-8)Judgment, Eschatology, and the

Kingdom (10:8-16; 11:29-32; 12:1-12, 35-48; 12:54-59; 13:1-9, 18-30; 17:20-37; 19:11-27)

Major Topics of Jesus’ Teaching on the JourneyRiches, Poverty, Possessions, and Faith (10:1-7; 12:13-34; 14:12-24; 16:1-15, 19-31; 18:18-30)God’s Compassion for Lost Sinners (15:1-32; 18:9-14; 19:1-10)God’s Preference for the Humble (9:46-50;

14:7-11; 17:11-19; 18:15-17, 35-43)Conflict with Jewish Leaders (11:14-23,

37-54; 13:10-17; 14:1-6)Prediction of Jesus’ Passion (9:22, 30-31,

43-45; 13:31-35; 17:25; 18:31-34)

Luke’s Radical Call to Discipleship25 Now large crowds were accompanying Jesus, and turning to them he said, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple . . . 33 In the same way therefore not one of you can be my disciple if he does not renounce all his own possessions.” (Luke 14:25-27, 33 NET)

The Rich and the Poor 19 "There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 But at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus whose body was covered with sores, 21 who longed to eat what fell from the rich man's table. In addition, the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 "Now the poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And in hell, as he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his side. 24 So he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish in this fire.'

The Rich and the Poor25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that in your lifetime you received yourgood things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish. 26 Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us, so that those who want to cross over from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.'

The Rich and the Poor27 So the rich man said, 'Then I beg you, father– send Lazarus to my father's house 28 (for I have five brothers) to warn them so that they don't come into this place of torment.' 29 But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they must respond to them.' 30 Then the rich man said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 31 He replied to him, 'If they do not respond to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'" (Luke 16:19-31 NET)

Distinctives of Luke’s Passion NarrativeLuke’s account of the Last Supper is about

twice as long as Mark’s (Luke 22:14-38).Prayer: Luke adds the strengthening angel

and the bloody sweat (22:43-44 [a disputed text]).

Arrest: Luke adds the healing of the slave’s ear (22:51).

Arrest: Luke omits the flight of the disciples.Jesus looks at Peter after the third denial

(22:61).In Luke, Pilate seems to try hard to release

Jesus. He repeatedly declares that he believes Jesus is innocent (23:4, 14-15, 22).

Only Luke has a trial before Herod Antipas (23:6-12).

Christ on the Cross, Diego Rodriguez da Silva y Velazquez, 1632

Distinctives of Luke’s Passion NarrativeOnly Luke has Jesus’ words to the “Daughters of Jerusalem” (23:27-31).Jesus prays for forgiveness of the soldiers (23:34a

[a disputed text]).Luke adds the story of the repentant criminal

(23:39-43).Luke omits Jesus’ cry of desolation and adds

Jesus words committing his spirit to the Father (23:46).

The centurion declares Jesus to be “innocent” or “righteous” rather than, “the Son of God” (23:47).

The crowds go home “beating their breasts” (23:48).

Luke enhances the description of Joseph of Arimathea: “a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their purpose and deed” (23:50-51).

Christ on the Cross, Diego Rodriguez da Silva y Velazquez, 1632

Supper atEmmaus

Diego RodriguezDa Silva yVelazquez

ca. 1620

Themes of Luke’s Post-resurrection Appearances of Jesus (24:12-53)Everything takes place in or near Jerusalem.People don’t believe until they see.

Jesus explains how all this was predicted in the Scriptures.

The preaching to all nations is part of what Scripture predicted.

Themes of Luke’s Post-resurrection Appearances of Jesus (24:12-53)Peter is perplexed, but later Jesus appears to him (vv. 12, 34).Jesus’ resurrection body is physical.The disciples are told to wait in

Jerusalem for “power from on high.”Jesus ascends to heaven.The Gospel ends with worship of

Jesus and worship in the Temple.

Discussion QuestionsSession A: MarkWhat do you think are the reasons that the disciples often failed to understand Jesus’ teaching and the nature of his messiahship? What political, social, or religious agendas from our culture have shaped how we understand Jesus’ kingdom? Session B: Luke25 Now large crowds were accompanying Jesus, and turning to them he said, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple . . . 33 In the same way therefore not one of you can be my disciple if he does not renounce all his own possessions.” (Luke 14:25-27, 33 NET)How do you understand these challenging words? Is it possible to be a disciple of Jesus in twenty-first century Singapore? Session C: MatthewWhat teachings in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5 –7) do you find difficult to follow? How do you think we can understand and apply these teachings in our lives?